Hi Chaps, I am building a new File Server and would like your thoughts please.... Cpu: E6300 (Got), may upgrade to E6600 next year. Mb: Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R (Got) Mem: 2Gb PC5400 (Got) Hd: 2 x 300 Gb Samsung 300GB IDE (Got) Hd: 4 x 750 Gb Seagate ST3750840AS Barracuda 7200.10 (RAID 5) (to Order) Os: Server 2008 and VMWare. Hope to add an additional 2 x 750 Hd's next year. Will try using the onboard RAID 5, but if the CPU load is high then I plan to get the Highpoint RocketRaid 2320 PCI-E 8 Port SATAII Raid Controller, hence the PCI-express x4 on the mb. However, I am unsure of what PSU to get. 8 or 10 HD's is alot of start up load, hence would 500W be enough? Thanks
The huge amount of HDDs will cause a heavy load on any given PSU. Using the ever handy http://www.extreme.outervision.com/ tool, you'll probably need 500W at least. Personally, I would go for a 600W or 700W model, as in your case the PC is a server, hence reliability is an issue. You'll probably better waiting for the more PSU experienced members of the forum to give you advice, but I would say a high end Enermax/Corsair/Silverstone, like the 720W Infinity or a 620W Corsair HX. Also, the 6600 may be a slight overkill, the 6300 is well enough. Just saying.
Off topic i know but the Gigabyte P35C-DS3R board are perfect! OC my Q6600 up to 3.6GHz until memory runs out of steam. can i ask what cooling you are using on those boards, any big heatsinks? Thermalright? as the NB HS looks as if it will get in the way of larger CPU HS's.
Go linux and downgrade everything (except PSU en HD's of course) 50-75% A Linux fileserver (heavy load) will do just fine with a 2GHz CPU and 1GB RAM, and this includes running Software RAID (which is quite good on a dedicated box).
Burnout21 - I use Zalman CNPS9500-AT CPU cooler in 2 machines. Its design may not be the best in some tests, but overall it sends the heat straight out of the back. I use another set of fans at the rear to help suck out the hot air. It fits in well with the Gigabyte boards. A friend uses the 9700 which is larger, but I dont think it makes much difference. The fan on my Zalman with the E6750 sometimes does not even move. The only time I saw it spin relly fast was when I really OCed the machine and then it was still cooling well. Thanks for the other comments. I think you are right about the E6600...Will be overkill. Hope to build the base machine (no RAID) next week so will see how VMWare holds up. I use to use Linux (was there when it came on floppy disks only), but for this setup I need a windows Domain Controller. I was planning to use VMWare ESX Server under Linux (use it here in my office), but I can not get the hardware. VMWare Server is linked to specific types of hardware which is not usually found on desktop motherboard.
Depends what you want it for really, if it's just for home use though i'd call it extreme overkill My little server box can quite easily max out it's 100mbit lan connection at only ~30% cpu usage, with software raid too (and it's only a 800mhz Via C3)
mm with your power supply, having all those hard drive's, i would go for a good 700watt, but u could probably get away with 500, but not sure how reliable it would be.
The Corsair hx 620W looks a good PSU. I was thinking of the Zalman as I have a 500W already, but the Corsair looks better. If the onboard RAID 5 feels slow (doubt it), I may get a Highpoint RocketRaid 2320 PCI-E 8Ch Raid5 SATAII Controller, but I dont think it supports disk spin up delays. That would be nice, as I could stuff loads of disks in the machine and start them up one at a time to avoid the massive current draw from starting them all at once. As for extreme overkill, you may be right....:->
